Improvement in paper-files



FILE INDEX.

Patented Sep. 5.1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. THOMPSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUIWBIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM A. AMBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAPER-FILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,757, dated September 5, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. THOMPSON, of the city and county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Files and Indexes, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed, and in which is illustrated a perspective View of my improved file and index.

This invention has reference to an improved file and index for letters, Src.; and it consists of a receptacle, having apertures made in its sides near its rear end or back, through which is introduced flexible or other' suitable material for holding the indexleaves properly in place within the said receptacle, and whereby the sa-id leaves may be arranged with reference to each other as that a space of any required size between them can be created for the proper accommodation of the quantity of letters, &c., to be inserted between them for filing, the said receptacle or case being furnished also with a hinged door or lid and a post or guard, which assists in properly retaining the letters, tc., within the leaves of the index, substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

To enable others to manufacture and use my invention, I proceed to describe it.

In the annexed drawing A refers to a receptacle or case, made, preferably, of a rectangular form, and supplied with a door or lid, a, which is hinged or attached to the said case by some iiexible material at the end of its horizontal portion, and supplied at the extremity of its vertical portion with a clasp, which fits over a projection secured to the base ofthe guard B ofthe case A. This case is also constructed with openings c1 c1 both in its top and bottom, and near its rear end or back, for the reception and passage of the tape a2 or other suitable means for holding the index-leaves, designated by the letters of the alphabet, within the said case, the said fastening or tape a2 being made to pass through apertures in the said leaves and tied or otherwise secured together at its endsY upon the lower side of the case just referred to, and whereby the said leaves may be so secured in place as to permit of a space between each of them, being created of such size as to accommodate or suit the quantity of letters to be inserted between them for filing. B refers to the post or guard above referred to, which is fastened at its lower extremity to the bottom of the case A, or constructed with the latter, and for the reception of which, when the lid a is closed, a recess or opening, a, is cut in the iront part of the said cover or lid a. (See drawing.) This guard prevents the letters inserted in the index-leaves from coming in contact with the lower edge of the cover a, as itis so located that its inner surface, against `which the said letters rest at their outer ends, is brought in the same plane as that ofthe inner surface of the vertical or front part of the said cover, thereby pre-venting them projecting beyond the same and the said cover accomplishing the result above stated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The case A with the lid a having the recess a3, openings a al, and the guard or post B, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The case A with the apertures a c1, lid a, and guard B, in combination with the binding a?, and an index, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the piupose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this Sth day of April, A. D. 1871, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

E. H. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

A. GUsTAM, WILL M. HARTsHoRN. 

